CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Sasha didn’t understand why Sidney screamed“fuck you!”at the door, but if it was like any of the times she’d been recently frustrated, she assumed Vile was playing games again. She stood to answer the door. Opening it, she wasn’t surprised to see who was there.
What shewassurprised to see was the bouquet of roses he was holding. He was dressed in a tuxedo—in his opera finest—and he looked…well,incredible.His eyes flitted to Doctor Watson, but if he was surprised to see Sherlock’s assistant, he didn’t register it.
As he wouldn’t.
Since this was all part of the plan.
She hoped—prayed—that Sidney would forgive her for what was going to happen. She couldn’t help but crack a bad joke at the professor. “For Doctor Watson? You shouldn’t have.”
“Terribly funny.” Moriarty smirked down at her. “He is hardly my type.”
“I wasn’t aware you had a type, James.” She smiled and opened the door wider. “Regardless, you gentlemen are going to be the ruin of my reputation. One of you must go.”
“I was just leaving, anyway.” Sidney stood, wincing as she putweight on her bad leg as she headed for the door, glowering at Moriarty as she passed. The vehemence there didn’t need to be faked. It wasn’t part of an act. She hated the villain just as much as anyone—even if she’d never metMoriartybefore. “We’ll be in touch, S—” She stopped herself. “Miss Adler.”
“I’m sure you will be.” Sasha watched her sister leave down the hallway, her cane tapping on the wood floors, before she shut the door and rested her forehead against the surface for a moment.
“I see they took the bait.” He placed the bouquet on the dresser.
“As we both knew they would.” She had a memory of discussing this with him at dinner. That he would ensure that a news article would be run and that they would be seen together publicly. But shealsoknew they hadn’t actually had any such conversation. Turning from the door, she went to her vanity to begin unclasping her necklace. She was ready to call it a night. This was all going to give her a headache. “Sherlock and his doctor will dog my every step, now. It will be easy enough to ensnare them both once we are ready, now that I am adequate bait.”
“Good.” His voice was close behind her. When his hands settled on her shoulders, tracing the line of her necklace, a shiver ran through her. He stroked her hair out of the way, undoing the clasp of her necklace for her.
With one hand, and no hesitation, he followed the necklace around to the front where it dipped into her bust line, and lifted it from her to set it on the table. His other hand stayed where it was, fingers resting on her throat. She could feel her pulse against the warmth of his touch.
And it was racing.
“Your performance tonight was…exquisite, Irene.” His voice was a deep rumble at her back. The sound of it had her eyes drifting half shut. He stepped close to her, the hand that rested at her throat slipping around the front to grasp it, hard enough to restrict her air just slightly.
He was tall enough that she barely reached his shoulder. Pullingin a hiss, she tilted her head back against his chest, her hands going to his thighs to clutch at the fabric of his suit pants.
But not to his arm to stop him.
Not to pull him away.
His lips hovered close to her ear, and she felt his chuckle as a deep, dark warm breath against her skin. “Wicked thing…” His teeth caught the lobe of her ear and bit down enough to sting.
She dug her nails into his legs, as hard as she could. She hoped she hurt him.
That got a growl from him. He took an abrupt step back. “Yes. I think I shall haveplentyof that. But not with a pack of eager children crouched by the door, listening for every gasping breath and thump of furniture, hm?” He straightened his suit coat.
Turning to face him, she was proud to see the kind of state she left him in. He had to reach into his pocket to adjust himself to keep from making quite the scene. She had done that. ToProfessor James Moriarty.He wanted her.Her.Yes, Irene Adler. Butherversion of the woman.
That made her want to throw him to the ground and ride him to oblivion, costume assistants be damned.
But she couldn’t. Not here. Not now. Not ever. Right? Right.Right.“I should be seen going home alone.”
“Indeed.” Reaching over, he plucked a single red rose from the bouquet he had brought her. With a bow of his head, he left the room without another word, shutting the door behind him.
What an abrupt, infuriatingly ingenious, and evil man. What was shethinking?Letting him—wanting him—Irene was going to let him—no.Sashawas going to let him. She couldn’t deny how quickly he had lit a fire in her. Slumping down onto the plush stool of the dresser, she shut her eyes.
Sleeping with Moriarty might help gain his trust. Make him easier to manipulate.
No, it won’t. He’s an evil mastermind. He wouldn’t fall for that kind of shit. It’d just be because you both want it.
Maybe it’d help manipulate Vile.
